Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy provided the latest report on the county’s progress on vaccinations and controlling the spread of the Coronavirus. As of yesterday, 66.7% of Albany County’s population has received at least the first dose, and 62.1% has been fully vaccinated. The first dose vaccination rate for the county’s 18+ population is now up to 77.5%. More information on vaccination rates can be found at the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker at the link here.

County Executive McCoy announced that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Albany County is now at 24,756 to date, with 22 new positive cases identified since the last update on Saturday. Please note that our overall case count will fluctuate as CommCare records are transferred in and out of the county. Albany County’s most recent seven-day average of percent positive rates is now up to 3.4%, and the Capital Region’s rate is now up to 3.5%.

Among the new cases of COVID identified in the county, five had close contacts to positive cases, two reported traveling out of state, 13 did not have a clear source of infection at this time and two are healthcare workers or residents of congregate living settings. There are now 144 active cases in the county, down from 150 since Saturday. The number of people under mandatory quarantine remained at 298. So far, 80,638 people have completed quarantine to date. Of those who completed quarantine, 24,612 of them had tested positive and recovered – an increase of 27 recoveries.

The County Executive reported that there were no new hospitalizations since Saturday’s update, and five county residents remain hospitalized with the virus. There are still no patients currently in ICU’s. Additionally, there were no new COVID deaths to report, and the death toll for Albany County still stands at 388 since the outbreak began.

“Each day, I am encouraged by the increased percentage of fully vaccinated Albany County residents as well as the low number of hospitalizations and no one in our ICU’s,” said County Executive McCoy. “However, the crisis isn’t over which is why Albany County is still under a State of Emergency. We continue to follow the science and evaluate the data in our COVID-19 response. We are following CDC guidance which recommends that those in counties with substantial or high rates of community transmission have all individuals, vaccinated or not, mask indoors. If the situation changes, we will respond accordingly.”  

County Executive McCoy and the Albany County Department of Social Services continue to host a series of informational sessions across the county at the below dates and locations to educate residents, check their eligibility and help them sign up for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The federally funded program is specifically for those who have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will be available to New Yorkers for up to one year of back rent, three months of future rental assistance and up to one year of owed utility payments. All allocations will be sent directly to landlords or property owners on behalf of the tenants. More information on the program can be found at the link here.

ERAP Informational Session Schedule:

Monday, August 2, 2:30pm
Berne Knox Westerlo School District
1738 Helderberg Trail, Berne, NY 12023

Tuesday, August 3, 8am to 11am
Trinity Alliance Food Distribution
20 So Ferry Street, Albany NY 12202

Wednesday, August 4, 5pm to 8:30pm
Capital Concert Series
Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY  

Thursday, August 5, 7am to 8:30am
FOCUS Church
275 State Street, Albany, NY 12210

Friday, August 6, 4pm to 9:30pm
Cohoes Eat in The Street
Canal Square Park, Cohoes, NY 12047

Tuesday, August 10, 1pm to 3pm
HATAS
143 Central Ave., Albany, NY 

Thursday, August 12, 8am to 11:30am
SUNY Albany
Dutch Quad, Albany, NY 12203 

Thursday, August 12, 1pm to 3pm
Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen
353 Clinton Ave., Albany, NY 12206

Friday, August 13, 10am to 12pm
Cultural Center
66 Quail Street, Albany, NY 12206 

Friday, August 13, 4pm to 9:30pm 
Canal Square Park
Cohoes NY 12047

Tuesday, August 17, 8am to 11:30am
Crosstown Plaza
Schenectady, NY 12304

Friday, August 20, 8am to 11am
Trinity Alliance Food Distribution
47 Lark Street, Albany, NY 


Upcoming Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics:

Tuesday, August 3, 10am to 1pm
Albany Housing Authority
200 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY

Thursday, August 5, 3pm to 6pm
Shaker Middle School, North Colonie School District
475 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, New York 12110

Friday, August 6, 4:30pm to 6pm (time updated)
Capital District Boys & Girls Club
21 Delaware Ave., Albany, NY

Friday, August 13, 11am to 1pm
Bleecker Stadium, Albany Youth Workforce (please note the new location)
721 Clinton Ave., Albany, NY

Friday, August 13, 11am to 2pm
Playstreets 2021
Madison Park, Albany, NY

Tuesday, August 17 through Sunday, August 22; 12pm to 7:30pm
Altamont Fair
New York 146 &, Arlington Street, Guilderland, NY
(A partnership with Schenectady County Dept. of Health)

Saturday, August 28, 1pm to 4pm
Medusa Fest
28 County Route 351, Rensselaerville, NY

Saturday, August 28, time TBD
Friendship Festival w/ CDPHP
Mosher Park, 2 Park Drive, Ravena, NY


Albany County continues to deliver vaccines to homebound residents, which includes seniors, disabled individuals, those lacking childcare and those with other accessibility issues. Anyone who would like to schedule a time for a vaccine appointment should call (518) 447-7198.

Residents can also receive free Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines Monday through Friday, 9am - 3pm, each week at the Albany County Department of Health, 175 Green Street. The 12+ population is currently eligible. No appointments are needed and walk-ins are welcome.  Those 12 to 15 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A follow up second dose clinic will be scheduled at the time of the first dose appointment. Free transportation is available for anyone at least 60 years old (and a caregiver), by calling the County Department for Aging in advance at (518) 447-7198.

For those who would like additional information on vaccinations and vaccination clinics organized by Albany County, please use the link here. Residents who want a shot from a state-run facility should use the state's website at the link here or call the state vaccine hotline at 1-833-697-4829. Walk-ins are now welcome at state-run facilities. For general information on the vaccine, residents can also dial the United Way of the Greater Capital Region’s 2-1-1 hotline.